World's biggest religious festival comes to an end after 120 million pilgrims cleansed their sins during two month celebration

Devotees: The river becomes a mass of bodies during the celebrations, with men stripping to their underwear
After two months of celebrations, the world's biggest religious festival the Kumbh Mela has come to an end.

The festival is celebrated every 12 years at the conjunction of two sacred rivers on the outskirts of the northern Indian city of Allahabad.
The Kumbh Mela draws massive crowds of devotees and foreign tourists as around 120 million pilgrims bathed in the Indian holy river to wash away their sins in the last 60 days.

Battle for nectar: The festival celebrates the victory of gods over demons in a battle for immortality

Brought to an end: Devotees raise their hands to receive coloured holy water from a priest on the banks of the river Ganges as a rainbow shines overhead during the Kumbh Mela

The last group of holy men to take part in the Kumbh by plunged into the river Ganges while other pilgrims filled the Ganga Jal (holy water) in plastic bottles for religious ceremonies at home.
Many naked holy men smeared their bodies with ashes and sand, chanted final prayers and departed from the venue.

Celebrations: Indian Sant Asaram Bapu, pictured centre, plays Holi with his followers during the Kumbh Mela festival in Allahabad

Bihari Hindu priests carry holy water from the River Ganges as they perform a ritual at the Sangam

Participants at the Kumbh believe a bath in the river on one of the festival's auspicious bathing days can rid them of their sins.

Site of significance: Festivities happen at the confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna and mythic Saraswatis river

Faith: Hindu worshipers believe that a bath in the river during the festival can rid them of their sins